: Slavery and involuntary servitude are prohibited "except as a punishment for a crime".

Efforts to remove the "punishment" exception from state constitutions are currently gaining momentum:

The core of the "prison slavery" debate centers on the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. While it abolished slavery, it includes a specific exception:

For more in-depth research, you can explore the ACLU’s Captive Labor report or the Global Slavery Index findings on state-imposed forced labor .

Researchers often use archival photographs (like those by Bruce Jackson ) to highlight the visual continuity between antebellum slavery and modern incarceration.

: New amendments have been introduced in Congress to officially close the 13th Amendment loophole nationwide.

: Modern inmates also manufacture office furniture, license plates, and uniforms for as little as cents per hour. 🗳️ The Modern Abolition Movement